Funchesses Take Path To Victories

February 7, 1990|By CHRIST PROKOS JR., Special to the News/Sun-Sentinel

The well-worn path from the front door of the Funchess home in Hollywood is not hard to follow.

It leads to the Attucks Middle School gym, where Eula Funchess first played basketball six years ago.

It ends at South Broward High, where Eula is in her senior season on the Lady Bulldogs` basketball team.

The trail that Eula blazed in 1984 was followed by her sisters -- Susan in 1986 and Liz in `87.

Now all three are on the same path.

And the same team.

With Eula starting at forward, sophomore Susan at shooting guard and freshman Liz at point guard, girls` basketball at South Broward is no longer fun, it is Funchess.

The Funchess trio makes up three-fifths of the starting lineup for Julia Myers` 8-8 team. What`s more, the sisters are the cousins of former South Broward standout Val Balom.

``They can tell where each other is going,`` Myers said. ``With Liz at the point guard, she can get Eula the ball and Susan has the outside shot. Because they played together at home, it helps them here.``

As the senior member, Eula knows of the influence she had on her sisters.

``They used to watch me play when I was at Attucks Middle School and they said they were going to play, too,`` said Eula, the tallest of the three at 5 feet 9. Susan is 5-3, Liz is 5-4.

Said Liz: ``To see (Eula) is our inspiration.``

``I would like to be like my sister Eula,`` Susan said.

Susan knows what it`s like to follow her sister. At Attucks, Eula had been named Most Valuable Player for the basketball team in eighth grade. When Susan reached eighth grade, she was also named MVP. Liz`s final year at Attucks produced a state championship team.

Besides being named homecoming queen, Eula is the fifth-leading scorer in the county with 18.8 points a game. She will also be the first of six sisters to attend college after graduating from South Broward.

In the meantime, it is all Funchess and games on the basketball court. The girls have a confidence in each other that can`t be taught.

``Since we were little, I knew what my sisters could do,`` said Eula. ``I knew if I gave them the ball that they could make the shot. It has been much easier since we are all here playing together. For Liz to be starting as a freshman says a lot.``

It also says a lot for their parents -- Walter and Susie Funchess.

``We are behind them 100 percent,``Susie said. ``I`m enjoying watching them play. I have missed only one game this year.``

Myers keeps potential problems under control.

``Susan might mess up and Eula will start to say something,`` Meyers said, ``but she will look at me and cut it off. (Susan and Liz) know that Eula is the experienced player both offensively and defensively. They listen to her.``

Starting all three sisters could have caused dissension, but Myers said it didn`t.

``I told the girls at the beginning of practice,`` Myers said, ``that I was going to take the best players and start them -- the ones who hustle.

``Liz came out here and gave it her all and deserved a starting spot. Susan didn`t start last year but she was giving more effort this year. Her shooting improved and she started keeping up with the pace of the game a little better.``

If they continue to hustle, all three should remain on the right path.